VW News: Volkswagen Says Phooey To GM's Claim Of Number One Automaker

[William Maley]

William Maley

Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

January 20, 2012

Earlier this week, General Motors announced that it sold 9.03 million vehicles in 2011, making it the world’s largest automaker by volume. However, Volkswagen is challenging the claim, stating GM included sales of automakers it doesn’t even fully own.

Volkswagen's beef with GM's claim is that it includes sales of Chinese automakers SAIC Motor Corp. and Wuling Motors Co. GM has stakes in both companies, but not a majority stake in either. Some analysts exculde Wuling and SAIC in their sales report.

Wulling accounted for 1.29 million vehicles, while SAIC accounted for 1.2 million. Remove those two out and Volkswagen would be the top automaker in volume with 8.16 million vehicles. That figure is expected to grow even higher when MAN and Scania trucks announce their sales within a few weeks.

What does GM think of VW's accusation?

“Our goal is to be the best, not necessarily the biggest. If we had announced plans on world domination, we probably would have been quibbling with the sales of our competitors and that’s as far removed from focusing on the customers as you can get,” said GM Spokesman, Jim Cain.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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[G. David Felt]

Stay focused on QUALITY Auto's and ignore the bulk sales numbers and GM will destroy the competition.

[frogger]

When VW said they had eyes on being #1 a few years ago I didn't think they were even in the ballpark and now they've done it, that's pretty nuts.

[PurdueGuy]

Stay focused on QUALITY Auto's and ignore the bulk sales numbers and GM will destroy the competition.

This. Chasing #1 takes your eye off of everything that would give a legitimate reason to be #1.

[daves87rs]

Stay focused on QUALITY Auto's and ignore the bulk sales numbers and GM will destroy the competition.

This. Chasing #1 takes your eye off of everything that would give a legitimate reason to be #1.

+1

[ocnblu]

I have to agree with Volkswagen's claims. Part ownership shouldn't count.

[Drew Dowdell]

Gm had included numbers from these two chinese subsidiaries for years. It's a bit late to be crying foul now.

[ocnblu]

Oh OK. Now I'm wondering if anyone else includes joint ventures and part ownership companies.

[Daryl Z71]

Worry about quality and the rest will come.

[Drew Dowdell]

Oh OK. Now I'm wondering if anyone else includes joint ventures and part ownership companies.

The threshold for who is included and who isn't is rather nebulous. Mazda was sometimes counted in Ford's total, sometimes not. Hyundai and Kia report their numbers seperately even though Hyundai owns 51%. Nissan/Renault often report their numbers together and sometimes seperate depending on which way is more convenient.